The Advertiser (Australia)
08-01-06
Recycled sewage water 'best in world'
BYLINE: CARA JENKIN, ENVIRONMENT REPORTER
RECYCLED sewage is what South Australians should be drinking, a visiting
international water expert says.
Professor Hans van Leeuwen from Iowa State University said recycled
wastewater would be of a better quality than that being taken from the River
Murray.
Professor van Leeuwen is conducting research at the University of South
Australia for six weeks, through the Adelaide-based International Centre of
Excellence for Water Resource Management.
He said the wastewater treatment proposal for Toowoomba - rejected by
residents in a weekend referendum - refines water to the best quality in the
world.
''I'm convinced of it that (recycling sewage) is the way to go for the future,''
Professor van Leeuwen said.
''I toured the water reservoirs around Adelaide on the weekend and you can see
how empty they are.
''As much as 90 per cent of water for Adelaide comes from the Murray River and
(the river is) a lot of recycled wastewater anyway.''
A spokeswoman for the State Government said there would be no need for
sewage to be recycled for drinking water under its water plans.